Images: The Week in Pictures

Nine-year-old Dylan Mount of Lindenhurst makes a charcoal drawing of an object he had on his table during the "Artful Inspirations" program Monday at the Lake Villa District Library. Students from grades 4-6 explored famous illustrators including illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, and tried their art mediums in class.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

I was drawn to make this image of the colored light show at the Naperville Millennium Carillon on New Year's Eve as soon as I stepped into the park and saw the potential of the scene. I purposely framed the scene so the spotlight beams came from two corners and the Carillon rise out of a third corner. This image was taken hand held with a slow shutter speed.Mark Black | Staff Photographer

When I heard back in November that Hostess brand was going to cease to exist, I just knew that the bakery outlet store up the street from our Elgin office would be the place to make some pictures that day. While the story of the day was documenting the effect the store's closure had on it's employees, the customers that streamed through the store that day took care of the Twinkie stock quickly. After a fellow newspaper photographer and I finished photographing these last four packages on the shelves, we bought them ourselves thinking it was the last anyone would see of the classic snack cakes. I also cleaned out the vanilla Zingers. I love those things.Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

A woman walks along the path near the icy Fox River just north of downtown St. Charles Monday afternoon.Rick West | Staff Photographer

Juana Rodriguez welds a side wall for a hopper at Elgin Sweeper Tuesday in Bartlett.Rick West | Staff Photographer

Fox River Grove Fire Protection District Chief Robert Kreher checks in on the radio while working the scene of a barn fire on Penny Road Tuesday in unincorporated Cook County. Multiple area departments responded with tanker assistance to the scene as there were no hydrants nearby.Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Patricia A. O'Brien, Certified Tea Etiquette Consultant, pours a cup of tea for Kelly Wagner of Grayslake during a class on the History and the Art of Afternoon Tea at the Grayslake Public Library.Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Head of Youth Services Kerry Reed, reads a winter story during family story time at the Lake Villa District Library.Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth says the Pledge of Allegiance with Girl Scouts prior to speaking about her experiences in scouts and the military at Clearmont School in Elk Grove Village Wednesday.JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

NASA astronaut Dr. Shannon Walker speaking to students at St. Anne School in Barrington.Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

"The Velveteen Rabbit" is performed by the Kirk Players Sunday at the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills. The sold out show of the children's story by Margery Williams included participation by children in the audience during portions of the play.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Victoria Renk, of Antioch, helps her daughters, Raina, 2, and Soma, 5, make snowmen out of cotton balls during the Winter Wonderland program Wednesday at the Lake County Discovery Museum near Wauconda.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Runners cross the Fox River on the Prairie Trail in Algonquin Wednesday as the sun sets.John Starks | Staff Photographer

Brian Cole of St. Charles enjoys a sunny and mild Wednesday morning by feeding the ducks along the path near the shore of the Fox River in downtown St. Charles. He's been stopping by to feed them 2-3 times a week for the past six months or so as part of his daily walking routine.Rick West | Staff Photographer

Susan Cloutier-Regan and her son Gabriel, 10, at their Villa Park home. Gabriel attends the School of Expressive Arts and Learning in Lombard and she is concerned with the wetlands surrounding the new school.Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

President Abraham Lincoln, played by Michael Krebs, sits in the audience and talks to Howard Koster, of Lincolnshire, as he entertained senior adults Thursday at the Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire, along with Debra Ann Miller who portrayed Mary Todd. The program was an informative look at the Lincoln's during their years in Springfield and Washington, D.C. and his views and actions during the tumultuous Civil War.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

President Abraham Lincoln, played by Michael Krebs, discusses his life as President during a program Thursday at the Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire. The program was an informative look at the Lincoln's, that included Mary Todd played by Debra Ann Miller, during their years in Springfield and Washington, D.C. and his views and actions during the tumultuous Civil War.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

St. Charles Police Department trains how to handle an active shooter situation at a school Thursday at Kaneland Middle School. The training, which the entire 54 officer department goes through each year, was already scheduled prior to last week's events. The officers work with simulated ammunition, or Simunition®. The department has been working with this type of training since 1999.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer

Sen. Dick Durbin laughs as he talks with Elgin Community College President David Sam Friday at the Elgin campus. Behind him is ECC trustee Eleanor MacKinney. Durbin met with ECC officials and students about how the college has dealt with student loan issues.Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

Ryan Root leads a late afternoon run, as abnormally high temperatures faciltitated the workout of these North Central College distance runners.Daniel White | Staff Photographer

Garryn Thornberry, 3, of Mundelein and his mom, Kori, view model trains during the North Central O Gaugers open house at the Fremont Public Library in Mundelein Saturday.JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Seamus Ladenburger, 3, of Lindenhurst, and his dad, Stefan, watch trains roll past during the North Central O Gaugers open house at the Fremont Public Library in Mundelein Saturday.JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer

Melissa Hallman, 25, of Barrington, appears nervous as she stands in one of many lines with others during the course of Saturday morning auditions for The Voice at Donald E. Stephens Convention Hall. She did not make it to the next round.Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Anvitha Ellanki, 5, and Bhargaui Namboovi, 5, both of Naperville, are all smiles as they took part in the Naperville-Aurora chapter of HSS celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. He brought the eastern Hindu philosophy (including Yoga) to the USA for the first time in 1893. This event was held at the Eola Community Center in Aurora Saturday.Paul Michna | Staff Photographer

Dan Wallis of Oswego readies to take a picture of a Northern Pike at the 30th annual All-Canada Show at Pheasant Run's Mega Center in St. Charles on Saturday. Wallis and his step-son, Glen Hasenheyer of Aurora come to the show every year. Hasenheyer got his picture taken with the fish too.Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

First grade students Daniela Warrensford, left, and Katie Polisson read in their pajamas as Hawthorn Elementary South held their Read 2013 marathon, reading for 2,013 seconds Friday in Vernon Hills.Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Ben Jones rides Bar Code during The Professional Bull Riders Chicago Invitational Sunday at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Riders from around the world competed in the arena riding 2,000 pound bulls.Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

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